Just heard the new Covid Lockdown and feel a little like this picture.: Watching rather than participating. Last week I wound up having 4 meals out in two days. It felt a little excessive, but now I’m glad I filled up with “adventures”. Looks like I can still meet people outside wearing masks. so I’m off to circle dance with a couple of other women friends tonight.
This collage had me thinking of living in North Vancouver but later in life identifying very much as a “city person” and especially as Kitsilano resident.
It reminded me of carpool trips from North Van to UBC in my late teens and early 20’s and reflecting on life since then and how much richness was waiting for me on the other side. New worlds; new vistas; a cup of tea; a glass of beer; so much was waiting.
Did you have a bridge you crossed from one world to another? Tell me about it.
or out walking and gardening and enjoying the abundance of colour?
Either way “May Flowers” is a great theme for a ATC-TWGB (Things Will Get Better).
You can submit 9 cards in a binder sleeve (blanks, binder sleeves and materials available–just ask mary@marybennett.net). They can all be the same or you can mix up hearts, rainbows, flowers and whatever else TWGB inspires for you!
You’ll receive in a return a mixed collection of 9 cards from a variety of people after the show – and probably in Phase 3.
Kit #2 – Home – including examples of how to fold a secret message into your “home” (See Penelope’s handout for how to do that.)
Kit #3 – Polka dot satchel – out with Leta. Lots of collage images and glue for 2. Includes 5 pages of 9 each available for trade
Kit #4 – Watercolour (plus) includes a small watercolour set with brush. Use the spray bottle to spray the colours first to make it easy. Watercolour paper can be cut to 2.5 x 3.5, or you can paint first and then cut. I like rough edges on watercolour paper, so you can use a ruler or other straight edge to tear. I’d suggest making it slightly smaller so the rough edge still fits in the binder sleeves. The reusable watercolour paper–Use the plain side; wash the coloured side (much of it will disappear) or use part of the painted side and add to it with paint or collage or whatever. Marie has this kit.
Kit #5 – Enough blank cards and binder sleeves, scissors and glue for a group of 6. Lots of collage images and various media including pencil crayons and waxed crayons. Various bright coloured papers for cutting up and labels for writing stuff on. Let’s call it the Birthday party kit? or the Friday night friends meetup kit. I’m thinking kids but adults might like too. This is the original satchel set up last year. I love to see it roam around the neighbourhood.
I’ve loved setting up kits with input from who wants to use them. Here are some of the tools and materials still available (and of course, the kits above will be available for circulation).
Deliver tools and leftover materials back to me with your completed cards for display.
OK, ready for stage 2 of the ATC-TWGB project.
I am making up kits for you to borrow with more than enough for 10 ATCs–9 for the binder page you’ll submit and an extra for you to keep. Many people make a series like this and then trade, but of course if you decide to do all entirely different ones, that’s ok too.
All kits have blank ATCs cut to size and a binder page for your 9 cards to submit. If you want multiple sets – e.g. for a family or because you want to make more than 9, just ask. Contact me if you live in Kitsilano and I’ll arrange a pick up spot.
Heart Kit: Red and pink paper, heart punch; heart embosser for crinkling paper into heart shapes; various red and pink drawing tools
Rainbow Kit: Rainbow colours in a couple of different drawing implements (crayons, pencils, etc); brightly coloured paper; etc.
Home: A sample of the “secret message” home card by Penelope; collage images; glue stick/s; scissors
Extras: Would you like to “trade in advance”? i.e. I’ll put in 9 finished ATC’s and when you submit your 9, I’ll keep those?
Display at 2909 West Broadway. I hope to get some instructions and a starter display up by this weekend (May 9) so as you wander by, do check it out.
Stay tuned for next zoom call — this Sunday night at 3pm. I’ll do a fairly informal show and tell of these options and the materials–and if you’ve done some by then, I hope you’ll join and chime in. If you learn to screen share before then or can send me an image for posting that would be fabulous.
The final zoom call will be sunday may 24. It will be “broadcast live” from 2909 west broadway and include a slide show of the submissions on display.
People are mailing things (and ordering things via email).
Make some mail art and send off to friends and family near and far — or exhibit as part of the Kitsilano ATC show in May. Let them know that Things Will Get Better (TWGB).
Mail art can be similar to ATCs, but larger and made for mailing rather than trading. But you do sometimes get something back. Usually collage and mixed-media.
This is my understanding of Canada Post requirements and costs.
Lettermail™ Speed Local – 2 days Provincial – 3 days National – 4 days
NOTE: These delivery standards are not guaranteed . And this is what Canada Post says about effect of coronavirus:
We’re experiencing delays as we put safety first
In the last few weeks, we have seen a significant increase in parcel volumes as Canadians are staying home and shopping more online. We are working hard to respond in a responsible manner. With incoming parcel volumes at Christmas levels, the important safety measures we’ve implemented in our processing facilities mean it is taking longer to process. Those measures include physical-distancing in facilities that were never designed for keeping people 2 metres apart. We continue to process and have been delivering in record numbers for this time of year, but the reality is that customers should anticipate delays.
This site is U.S. based but I couldn’t find a Canadian one and a lot of this would apply. Also lots of great images showing stamp placement and calligraphy.